XP: Oxford Comma?

originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
Whereas no place I have published has demanded the penultimate comma, none have disallowed it either. Those who demand it to eliminate ambiguity may usually be answered by simply rejiggering the series to get rid of the possibility of an appositive. Those who oppose it need to turn their energies to something more important such as opposing the now almost universal misuse of "begs the question," or extirpating the use of "under way" for "under weigh."
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Don't get me started on those who use "free reign."
 
originally posted by Jayson Cohen:
Do you mean for those who write in sentence fragments, Chris?

Long love the Oxford comma!!
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Fragmentary, is. As fragmentary, does.

Long love, that's your business.
 
I hate to say this, having grossly cringed at

In a list of three or more items — like “beans, potatoes and rice”

which also should have used "such as" rather than "like," but I'm fairly indifferent to the Oxford comma with "or."

Am I aberrant?
 
not sure why style (and the omission of one dinky little bit of (miserable, squalid, pustulent, monty python-esque) ink should hold so much sway over just plain putting into print that which least likely to cause confusion. confusion abounds. so why this tempest in a teapot? plenty of tempests already.
 
Posted elsewhere was this clarification reportedly from the AP...

comma clarification

As with all punctuation, clarity is the biggest rule. If a comma does not help make clear what is being said, it should not be there. If omitting a comma could lead to confusion or misinterpretation, then use the comma.

Include a final comma in a simple series if omitting it could make the meaning unclear. The governor convened his most trusted advisers, economist Olivia Schneider and polling expert Carlton Torres. (If Schneider and Torres are his most trusted advisers, don’t use the final comma.) The governor convened his most trusted advisers, economist Olivia Schneider, and polling expert Carlton Torres. (If the governor is convening unidentified advisers plus Schneider and Torres, the final comma is needed.)
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Logic finally prevails!

. . . . . Pete
 
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